Gavin Albrecht is a local artist and craftsman. When his table cracked, he thought he had made his worst mistake yet...

The table was carefully crafted out of walnut and artistically designed with blue epoxy. But the epoxy weathered badly and cracked shortly after it was purchased, completely damaging the final product. The artwork was returned, and as Gavin shares, "It just stared at me each time I went to my shop, reminding me of my failures."

Despite this mistake, and with encouragement from his wife, Gavin cleaned up the edges of the broken areas and filled the cracks with gold epoxy, reminiscent of the Japanese practice, Kintsugi.

This art form traditionally mends broken pottery with gold and  symbolizes the importance of allowing both our strengths and weaknesses to show. Encouraged, Gavin put the repaired table up for sale. 

Still the table sat.
No one bought it.

"For months I would walk to the shop and see this repaired table staring at me, reminding me of my failures, reminding me that I had cost my family a lot of money and how would I provide for them again?" BUT God wanted to use Gavin's mistake... 

Through a series of connections, Gavin was in touch with By Peaceful Waters, and all agreed that the table was a perfect fit for the agency.

The boardroom table is an illustration of God's work in our lives: A table that had been so lovingly crafted was badly damaged by the elements and is now restored to wholeness and stunning beauty. Through it is mingled the beautiful blue "peaceful waters" and the thread of gold, a picture of His redemptive work in His sons and daughters. 
 

Gavin witnessed first hand how God makes beauty from brokenness. All of the doubt and worry he experienced is echoed by our clients who sit around that table. "I have failed. I am damaged goods. This mistake has cost me so much."  
How amazing is our God that He would perfectly craft this table, so that what first seemed like a mistake and a failure, is actually a picture of how He makes beauty from brokenness.

Our therapists and family professionals have the privilege of sharing the story of the table with our clients. There are tears and brokenness. But there is also hope. They are being made new. They have courage to rebuild... right at a table that knows the same story.